Former NASA Astronaut To Visit With STEM Students In Tampa

TAMPA, FL -- Tampa Bay astronaut Nicole Stott, the first person to paint a work of art in space, will visit two Tampa schools on Tuesday to inspire students considering careers in science and technology.

Stott will share stories of her time in space—and the important steps she took in her education to get there—during a presentation and visits with individual students at Stewart Middle Magnet School and Blake High School.

Stott developed a love for flying and passion for art as a child in Clearwater. Those interests stayed with her while she served as an engineer at NASA before being selected as an astronaut. Stott then went on to fly three times aboard the Space Shuttle and live for three months aboard the International Space Station in 2009.

During her time living in orbit, Stott used a small paint kit to paint a work of art based on the glowing planet below, becoming the first person to paint an artwork in space. Since retiring from NASA, Stott has used her continued work as an artist to advocate for the planet and people working to improve life here on Earth through her Space for Art Foundation.

Stewart Middle Magnet, 1125 W. Spruce St., Tampa, is home to the John Glenn Top Gun Academy, a STEM program affiliated with NASA, that engages middle school students with learning focused on the science and wonder of space exploration.